Engineering Society offering assistance awards to robotics teams

Posted
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 1:00 pm

The Providence Engineering Society will donate two financial assistance awards in the amount of $750 each to the 2013-2014 FIRST* (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge (FTC) teams competing in Rhode Island. New England Institute of Technology has been an affiliate partner of FIRST* for the last eight years serving as the host site for this Rhode Island high school robotics competition. The upcoming challenge will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, at New England Tech’s Automotive Technology Center, 101 Access Road, Warwick.

The awards will go to two individual high school robotics teams that consist of a dedicated mentor and students but lack the funds needed to compete in the program. The financial assistance awards are to be used solely for expenses associated with the 2013-2014 FIRST* Tech Challenge. Teams interested in applying for a financial assistance award should submit a two-page letter that includes the following information: Team name; town, school or community where the team is located; mentor name and contact information; number of students on team; description of any past experience of the team; how the financial award will be used; how the team plans to raise any additional funds; and how the team will demonstrate to PES that the award was used effectively.

The letter of application should be emailed to Adam Bessette, PES past president, at adambessette520@hotmail.com with a copy sent to Chris Cronin, PES Secretary at ccronin@beta-inc.com. Submission deadline is Friday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. The Society will review completed submissions and contact the chosen teams by Friday, Oct. 11. Questions regarding team eligibility or the application process may be directed to Adam Bessette at 742-1707or to his e-mail listed above.